Max Verstappen has warned he could walk away from Formula 1 if the Sprint format is expanded further.
This year sees the number of races using the new schedule double from three in 2021 and 2022 to six, with the first coming at the next race in Azerbaijan.
Before then, it is expected the FIA and the F1 will agree to some big changes to the format, notably the introduction of a second qualifying session on Saturday morning to decide the grid for the Sprint race.
However, Verstappen fears such changes will only increase the workload on drivers and teams, and potentially end his interest in F1.
“I’m not a fan of it at all,” he said in Australia.
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“When we do all that kind of stuff, the weekend becomes even more intense and we’re already doing so many races, so I think that is not the right way to go at it.
“I understand it’s because they want to have basically every day exciting, but then I think maybe it’s better just to reduce the weekend – only race Saturday and Sunday and make those two days exciting.
“We’re heading into seasons where you will have 24, 25 races – because that’s where we’re going, and if we start adding even more stuff, it’s not worth it for me anyway. I’m not enjoying that.”
Verstappen has been one of the biggest critics of holding Sprint races in F1 and went into detail about why he despises them so much.
“For me, a sprint race is all about surviving. It’s not about racing,” he explained. “For me, when you have a quick car, there’s nothing to risk.
“I prefer just to keep my car alive and make sure that you have a good race car for Sunday.
“But even if you change the format, I just don’t find it’s the DNA of Formula 1 to do these kinds of sprint races,” Max added.
“F1 is about getting the most out of it in qualifying and then have an amazing Sunday in a good long race distance. That’s the DNA of the sport – and I don’t understand or I don’t know why we should change that, because I think action has been good.”
Instead, Verstappen thinks F1 should be more focused on increasing the competition at the front of the grid.
“To get even more action is about getting the cars closer or getting more teams able to fight for the win, and I think naturally, the show will be great,” he said.
“If we have six or seven teams already fighting for the win that will be insane, and you really don’t need to change anything.”
